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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

A level Predicted grades disappointing...

127 replies

KittenKong · 06/12/2021 14:32

Any insights into how this plays out?

DS was hoping for some upgrades but the teachers have said no (he was trying for so hard too, poor kid).

Does anyone know how this works in the real world - will his applications be considered? Is he likely to get any offers? What if the exams are cancelled again?

Arghhhh

OP posts:
mnp321 · 06/12/2021 15:32

Predicted grades for UCAS applications?

ChloeDecker · 06/12/2021 15:46

Please don’t panic!
Applicants do not always have to meet the entry requirements with their predicted grades to receive an offer – universities and colleges will assess applications on an individual basis.

On this basis, your DS can select one ‘aspirational’ course if he wishes, for example, then select one that meets his current predicted grades.
Then one course at least a grade or couple of grades lower than his current predicted grade for a possible insurance.
The other two choices can be whichever her prefers.

Your DS needs to think about the rest of his application too. His predicted grades aren't the only thing that a lot of universities will look at, so building up his application in other ways can help

He can check the average grades that people on the courses he looks at, gets.
These won't always be the same as the average offer, or the listed entry requirements too.

Once his application gets sent, he can then either use the Extra service when it opens in February if his grades/assessments look better or worse to add a new course. Ultimately, he then also has the option of using clearing or if higher, through Adjustment in the summer.

It doesn’t have to be a disaster and being realistic can be a good thing!

Bluntness100 · 06/12/2021 15:46

What was he predicted and for what subjects and what unis is he applying to?

Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 15:52

His tutor has said to try for a late entry and not apply for his preferred unis now.

He is currently a, a/b, a/b, b - he was hoping/expecting for an upgrade to 3 As for chemistry (they want aaa for where he is wanting).

Arggggggg. He’s been trying hard too and seemed to be getting good homework’s and comments in class.

OP posts:
Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 15:53

Chemistry - he ideally wanted chem and maths.

OP posts:
titchy · 06/12/2021 16:14

2023 will be less competitive than 2022 if applying next autumn and having a gap year appeals?

If not then what would the a/b predictions actually be on the form? It has to be one grade not two. Any why is there a fourth subject? Dropping that could well make life easier.

Chemistry isn't a competitive subject though, so unless he wants top three or four ABB predictions should still yield the standard offer at AAA unis.

Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 16:24

With regards to the marks, that’s the way the do the marking (so M 1-3 and D 1-3 rather than abc - so the marks aren’t exact bands), and sadly his 4th subject is the one he did to make up the numbers (he doesn’t work at it and is just doing really well). So I’m not sure what they would put in the applications.

OP posts:
mnp321 · 06/12/2021 16:27

Our school does UCAS predicted grades in bands. The upper grade is the one sent off for university applications, so if your range is A-B, A is the grade used.

Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 16:28

I’ll ask him to check.

OP posts:
Seeline · 06/12/2021 16:31

Are these A levels or BTECS? 3As for chemistry doesn't make sense!

Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 16:47

A levels - so he is doing 4 at the moment

OP posts:
titchy · 06/12/2021 16:55

@KittenKong

With regards to the marks, that’s the way the do the marking (so M 1-3 and D 1-3 rather than abc - so the marks aren’t exact bands), and sadly his 4th subject is the one he did to make up the numbers (he doesn’t work at it and is just doing really well). So I’m not sure what they would put in the applications.
Well given the deadline is only a few weeks away he needs to find out bloody fast! I imagine he's already missed his schools deadline.
titchy · 06/12/2021 16:56

@Seeline

Are these A levels or BTECS? 3As for chemistry doesn't make sense!
Confused Of course 3 x A makes sense...
Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 16:56

Sorry - he’s doing his uni apps.

OP posts:
Seeline · 06/12/2021 17:00

OP said DS wanted 3As for his chemistry, and then referred to Ms and DS which are usually BTEC gradings

Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 17:08

Ahhh I see. His bloody school always have to do things differently... I think they used to do preU (maybe that the old marks)

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 06/12/2021 18:19

His tutor has said to try for a late entry and not apply for his preferred unis now.

Is he doing mocks very soon? Is the tutor giving him the chance to prove he can get those grades?

Revengeofthepangolins · 06/12/2021 18:44

Even if it is Pre U the school will have to plump for one grade. So are they giving him an A (or D3 in PreU parlance), or B (or M1/2)? They can give split grades internally, but on the ucas form they can only put one grade. There simply is no such things as a/b for a Ucas prediction

The guidance this year is if in doubt on a borderline case, predict up.

But tbh it seems v unlikely that the school wouldn’t have committed to his Ucas predictions already by this point

Revengeofthepangolins · 06/12/2021 18:45

And “late application” ie adding more universities later in the spring or in Ucas extra, is not a solution for this problem. Applying next year is another thing altogether but that doesn’t mean not applying this year too

Are you at an overseas school possibly, that aren’t used to the U.K. application process?

Budapestdreams · 06/12/2021 18:59

What are his actual predicted grades?

Where does he want to go and what does he want to study? (Chemistry?)

  1. He needs to clarify what school will put down on his UCAS form as his predicted grades.
  1. Choose 2 courses that ask for the same grades, 1 or 2 that ask for higher grades and 1 or 2 that ask for lower grades.
  1. Add an excellent PS detailing why he loves the subject and all the extra reading and research he's looked into, the supra curricular stuff. Wow them with his passion and knowledge.
  1. Wait for offers
  1. If he doesn't get into his preferred Uni, go through clearing in the summer or reapply next year with grades in hand or resit A-levels next year.

Best of luck

RampantIvy · 06/12/2021 19:22

Can I suggest that if he wants AAA to drop the fourth subject. Universities want three excellent grades, not four not quite as good grades. Even medical schools and Oxbridge onky ask for three A levels. It sounds like he was badly advised at the school.

Original poster
KittenKong · 06/12/2021 20:31

@Revengeofthepangolins

And “late application” ie adding more universities later in the spring or in Ucas extra, is not a solution for this problem. Applying next year is another thing altogether but that doesn’t mean not applying this year too

Are you at an overseas school possibly, that aren’t used to the U.K. application process?

No - I did all this in Scotland 100 years ago. Saw a course I liked, applied in 5th year, got unconditional, farted around for a year, went off to uni... my school was worse than useless so I didn’t get them involved.

My place was a surprise to my (horrible) form teacher (she really hated me). I had to get her to sign my leavers form and she asked if I was going to go off and work in the local soap factory (I’m not even kidding). I think getting to say to her ‘no I actually got a place at uni last year but had to wait a year because I was only 16 then and they wanted me to stay on for my sixth year’ was delicious.

OP posts:
Revengeofthepangolins · 06/12/2021 23:25

But not very relevant to the question of why his school still hasn’t provided actually Ucas predictions this late in term.

Original poster
KittenKong · 07/12/2021 08:07

They were ‘looking at’ the predicted grades this week.

He did fairly well in the recent exams (a* equivalent in one) and has been working hard and getting good homework and class marks too. He was optimistic that he’d get his predicted grades raised and was quite surprised that they didn’t move (well one did).

He is going to speak to his form master today about where he goes from here.

If he were to drop the 4th that it would realistically be the one that he is getting his highest score in (English). He enjoys it and finds it very easy.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 07/12/2021 08:22

He should keep English then. Most schools and 6th form colleges now only do 3 A levels, and often the ones that offer 4 subjects tend to have it as further maths to go with maths. DD started with 4 and achieved AABB at AS, dropped one subject and achieved AAA at A level, upping the two B grades to A. It is doubtful that she would have got AAAA if she hadn't dropped the extra subject.